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Bonelli (Richard) Collection
ARS0005
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Archive of Recorded Sound
Title: Richard Bonelli Collection
Identifier/Call Number: ARS0005
Physical Description:
22 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1911-1986
Abstract: The collection consists of Bonelli's
letters, documents, photographs, programs, publications, scores, scrapbooks, audiovisual
materials, posters and newspaper clippings.
Language of Material: Languages represented in the
collection: English
- Processed by:
- Andrea Castillo
- Date Completed:
- July 2006
- Encoded by:
- Ray Heigemeir
- Updated:
- April 2023
- Revised by:
- Benjamin E. Bates
Collection is open for research. Listening appointments may require 24 hours notice.
Contact the Archive Operations Manager.
Property rights reside with repository. Publication and reproduction rights reside with the
creators or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the
Head Librarian of the Archive of Recorded Sound.
Richard Bonelli Collection, ARS-0005. Courtesy of the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound,
Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Biography / Administrative History
Baritone Richard Bonelli was born Richard Bunn in Port Byron, New York on Feb. 2, 1889. His
voice teachers were Arthur Alexander in Los Angeles, and Jean de Reszke and William Valonat
in Paris. His operatic debut was as Valentin in Gounod's Faust at the Brooklyn Academy in
1915. From 1922-24 he toured the U.S. with the San Carlo opera company. After touring in
Europe with the Max Sauter Company in 1925, he was engaged at the Theatre Gaite Lyrique in
Paris. That same year he was to join the Chicago Opera Company, remaining there until 1931.
Between 1926 and 1942 he was a frequent guest at the San Francisco Opera, and was also a
member of the Metropolitan Opera from 1932-45. After retiring from the stage he dedicated
himself to voice pedagogy and was a much-appreciated teacher. He taught at the Curtis
Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and at the Music Academy of the West. Richard Bonelli
died in Los Angeles on June 7, 1980.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection includes several hundred personal and business letters; documents ranging
from private matters, such as his divorce papers from his first wife Pauline Curley, to
professional matters, such as his multiple opera contracts; photographs from his childhood
and family, a large number of promotional portrait photographs, some featuring him in
costume for various opera roles; a collection of programs; publications, mainly dealing with
opera companies; annotated opera vocal scores and songs; seven scrapbooks containing mainly
newspaper clippings; audiovisual materials; testimonials; and posters and newspaper
clippings.
Series 1. Correspondence. 2. Documents. 3. Photographs. 4. Programs. 5. Publications. 6.
Scores. 7. Scrapbooks. 8. Publications. 9. Films. 10. Sound recordings. 11. Testimonials and
awards. 12. Posters and snakes. 13. News clippings. 14. Miscellany.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Opera
Baritones (Singers)
Bonelli, Richard
Bonelli, Mona Modini